Meet Daysi Briones, owner of IQ Contracting, Inc. & Associates Daysi Briones, originally from Peru, always dreamed of running her own business. While working as a real estate agent she developed a passion for remodeling, which grew stronger as she watched her father and brother working in the construction industry. With $5,000 and the help of the NYC Women Chamber of Commerce, Daysi started her own contracting business. She constantly works to prove herself in this male dominated industry. Business Challenges Lead IQ Contracting to TAP Daysi turned to TAP to help her revamp her proposal process and better track her finances to increase profitability. She also needed help outlining both short and long term goals to navigate the uncertainty that Covid brought. How did TAP Help? TAP consultants Natalia Alarcon and Laura Stobbe helped IQ Contracting analyze finances on a per project basis. To ensure Daysi more accurately quoted jobs going forward, they reviewed costs from previous projects and studied competitors. They developed an estimation process that was clear to customers, aligned with industry standards and allowed for profit. The TAP team also helped Daysi determine revenue levels needed to satisfy her monthly expenses. They worked collaboratively with Daysi’s new accountant to categorize her expenses more thoughtfully and coached her on the best types of hires to help her with administrative tasks. Where is Daysi now? Daysi now has better tools to price jobs appropriately and the confidence to push her business to the next level. She added four full-time employees, three independent contractors and an administrative assistant. She also plans to hire an operations manager so that she can focus on sales. IQ Contracting transitioned out of her home office to a new rented space, and has secured some new clients, with a new focus on the private business space. Daysi utilized an SBA loan to purchase a new truck and new computer. With new financial awareness and a fighting spirit, Daysi is prepared to take advantage of the post-Covid recovery and realize her dream of making IQ Contracting a strong, profitable business.
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From seedbeads to symbols to semi-precious stones, Bead Everything offers customers all of the resources they need to create and style beautiful pieces of jewelry. In 2016, Owner Debbie Daum took her shining passion for gemology one step further and opened Bead Everything, a full-service bead store in White Plains, New York. Offering all types of beads, gemstones, and raw materials, her store attracts both novice and professional jewelry designers alike. Not only does Bead Everything have the materials to do-it-yourself, but it also offers beautiful finished pieces and jewelry-making classes. Why did Debbie need TAP? Debbie was looking to expand her customer base, update her website and explore new marketing tactics. With the goal of increasing revenue, Debbie also wanted to determine whether or not she should invest in a POS system. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, fewer people were visiting the store, having an effect on revenues, but also giving her more time to make strategic changes for the future. How did TAP help Debbie and Bead Everything? TAP consultants Laurie Medvinsky and Stephanie Bettis worked closely with Debbie to implement several changes to maximize efficiency. The consultants made recommendations around her different customer segments. They encouraged Debbie to target new customers, while improving marketing efforts to leverage her existing loyal base. They also offered ideas to increase website functionality for ecommerce transactions. To improve operations, Laurie and Stephanie helped Debbie compare different POS systems, and assisted her in evaluating her cash flows. Where is she now? As a result of TAP’s engagement, Debbie was given a better idea of what needed to be prioritized. She purchased Clover, a POS system, to better track customer purchases and inventory. She began utilizing "grab and go" kiosks to move out older inventory and is watching her expenses more carefully. Her client base has increased as more people have discovered the store through classes in waist beads and jewelry made by her new wire artist. Debbie is increasing social media activity and using virtual guest artists and craft shows to attract customers across the country to her products. She now has a roadmap to direct her efforts going forward. Debbie’s determination and creativity combined with TAP’s professional expertise helped Bead Everything position for growth in the future. |
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